About Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a condition in which there is too little glucose in the blood stream.  It’s often caused by the pancreas secreting too much insulin in response to eating sugar, refined carbohydrates, alcohol, soft drinks or caffeine.  Symptoms include:

• fatigue
• irritability
• cravings for sweets and constant hunger
• weakness in the legs
• dizziness and shakiness
• fainting or feeling faint
• headache
• anxiety and/or depression
• inability to think clearly
• aggression and loss of temper.  

The time of onset of symptoms and their severity are related to the quality of the last meal and when it was eaten.

Blood Sugar Imbalance Self Assessment

When you haven’t eaten for a few hours, do you get dizzy or shaky?

When you haven’t eaten for a few hours, do you get irritable?

When you haven’t eaten for a few hours, do you get fatigued and can’t think clearly, or feel ‘spaced out’ ?

When you’re hungry, do you usually crave sweet things?

Do you crave coffee, tea or sweet snacks in the afternoon?

Do you have frequent headaches?

Do you wake up during the night feeling anxious, or needing a snack ?

Your hands and feet often feel cold ?

Do you get attacks of sweating for no apparent reason ?

You eat desserts or donuts most days, and/or like to have several coffees, teas or sodas per day ? 

Do you fell fatigued or lethargic some days?

Diet Suggestions for Hypoglycemia

• The most important thing is to remove all refined foods, sugar, alcohol, soft drinks, caffeine and fruit juices.   
• Eat a diet high in fiber – lots of vegetables, beans, brown rice, lentils, soy products. 
• Don’t attempt ‘Food Combining’ (The Hay Diet) but instead always eat a little protein with each meal. 
• Good proteins include fish, nuts, seeds, skinless turkey or chicken, low-fat yogurt
• Reduce saturated fats, but eat enough good quality oils, such as olive oil, unrefined flaxseed or fish oil, unrefined walnut or sunflower oil.  Apart from olive oil, do not use these for cooking. 
• Eat little and often – about six small meals a day – do not allow yourself to go hungry.  Some people with hypoglycemia find it helpful to eat a small snack at bedtime.
• During a hypoglycemic reaction, a good snack would be a couple of oat cakes with nut butter (almond, hazelnut, cashew or peanut), or oat or rice cakes with goats cheese or avocado.

Also investigate adrenal insufficiency, thyroid or pituitary disorders and pancreatitis.  Candida overgrowth and allergies may also be present.

Health Supplements that may help Hypoglycemia

Sugar-Reg